Geodesic Dome

[swiss cheese]

Hi

Does anybody out there know how I would model a geodesic dome (as a roof) in Revit? The structure would be something like the attached image.

Many thanks.

[tomnewsom]

I wouldn't even attempt it.
I would use 3d studio or similar to create the mesh, and then import that back in Revit. Unless you do all the facet calculations by hand and do individual cuts for each face, Revit just can't do this sort of modelling.

[davidwlight]

Tom is right...3dstudio max or viz is probably your best option. Export that geometry as a 3d dwg from max, create a new mass in Revit & then import the 3d dwg into the mass. Then use curtain wall be face to generate the form. Its not going to be exactly how you want it, but its probably a good start place.

[sbrown]

I would think it fairly easy to create a dome, then a face based family in the shape of your structure, then piece it all together.

[dhurtubise]

The dome wont be an issue, it's the panel that will be. So i also think that your best bet would be to do it in another program (faster).

[Brian Myers]

3DS would be the best option, but it wouldn't be impossible to do in Revit, just time consuming and likely a bit frustrating. Another option (if a fudge factor or just looks is an option) would be to create a massing object (Solid/Void Revolve, etc) and then apply a geodesic material/surface pattern to it.

[aaronrumple]

... and then apply a geodesic material/surface pattern to it.

Unfortunately, Revit materials don't map to compound curve surfaces...

[Phil Read]

I believe this could be done in Revit as a series of blends if you use maintain three or four sided faces. More than this will be dang tricky and probably worth creating elsewhere and importing.

-Phil

PS. Does it bug anyone when the word "Revit" is not recognized when you Spell Check before submitting?

[twiceroadsfool]

LOL, for what its worth...

I thought i had a way to compile one in a family pretty quickly... I did a test with it, and the whole thing (so far) took like 5 minutes.... Until i hit finish sketch, LOL... My computer has been grinding away with one processor maxed out since then, bwahahahaa....

Doable in Revit, but probably way easier elsewhere. Especially if Max will automatically compile the geometry measurements...

EDIT: Phil, thats what i had done. The blends work fine, as ling as where the "points" have to be the sketch technically has a very small line there. That way it doesnt default to "twisting" to connect the top and bottom. You need a line with two vertices to connect to the sketch below.

I had the same happen trying to create a blend like the Freedom tower. Square in a square sketch = rotated square. A square with 4 tiny chamfered corners in another square = triangulated transformation.

Sadly, those tiny lines in the sketch are killing my computer right now, LOL...

[Brian Myers]

Unfortunately, Revit materials don't map to compound curve surfaces...

Ahhh.. second thing I've learned today. Amazing program it is, its a never ending exploration of different features and how far you can attempt to break them...